Team USA will look to defend their crown against Serbia in the final of the FIBA World Cup 2014 in Madrid on Sunday and are huge favourites to succeed.

Having coasted through the tournament thus far, the Americans boast a roster full of quality and have been able to utilise their superior athleticism, conditioning and talent against their opposition.

While the likes of Kenneth Faried, Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins form a formidable frontcourt, it has been Klay Thompson and James Harden in particular who have flourished in the backcourt.

Nevertheless, with Derrick Rose, Kyrie Irving and Stephen Curry leading an All-Star cast of guards, USA have been comfortable through both the group phase and knockout stages, winning all their games by double digits.

If there is a question mark over this team, it is their inability to find consistency early on, with a barrage in the third quarter usually taking the game away from the rivals and building the foundations to a lopsided victory.

Despite no LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Chris Paul this summer, Coach Mike Krzyzewski still has a highly-talented team at his disposal, and they have played professionally from the off to achieve the minimum expectation which was to participate in the championship game.

However, it is a complete contrast to their opponents in Sunday’s final, with Serbia exceeding all expectations by making the tournament finale.

Having failed to inspire through the qualifying campaign and in the group phase, the Serbians have taken their play to a new level through the knockout games. Greece, Brazil and France all have fallen as Sasha Djordjevic’s men have clicked and upset the odds time and time again.

Point guard Milos Teodosic is an influential leader of this team while Nemanja Bjelica and Miroslav Raduljica have played significant roles in their run. However, reigning Euroleague Rising Star Bogdan Bogdanovic has arguably been the biggest all-round star of the show, and he will hope to have a significant impact on Sunday.

Unsurprisingly, this is Team USA’s final to lose. However, Serbia have shown enough over the past fortnight to suggest that this will be a competitive ending to what has been a thrilling tournament over the past fortnight.